What's your study schedule?

[Auron]

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Hey guys,

I am beginning my DAT prep (done with college, graduating in a week) and I'm trying to figure out the best way to allocate my time by creating a study schedule. I plan on taking the exam in July.

If you have taken the DAT, or are currently preparing to take it, what is/was your study schedule? Did you study all bio then chem and pat etc. Or did you mix it up. How many hours per day did you study, etc? What worked for you?

Thanks a lot, and I'd be grateful for any help.

 

[razblo]

I'm just starting too, so I'm also curious about what worked well for people.

 

[NJDental]

I'd like some advice on a good study rhythm also. I'm always changing mine to see what works! I plan on taking it end of July/beginning of August..haven't picked a date yet.

I finished school today (took my last final about 5 minutes ago😀) so I'm trying to plan a schedule of study time for the DAT....i'll let you know when I figure it out, anyone else have advice??

Let us know 😉

 

[miedvied]

I'd like some advice on a good study rhythm also. I'm always changing mine to see what works! I plan on taking it end of July/beginning of August..haven't picked a date yet.

I finished school today (took my last final about 5 minutes ago😀) so I'm trying to plan a schedule of study time for the DAT....i'll let you know when I figure it out, anyone else have advice??

Let us know 😉

My plan for the summer is 1 hour PAT in the morning, 1 hour RC, 2 hours gym, 3 hours bio, 3 hours gchem, 2 hours gym, 3 hours ochem, alternating with 1 hour math in the morning, 1 hour bio, 2 hours gym, 3 hours bio, 3 hours gchem, 3 hours ochem, for days I'm not doing prep courses.

For prep course days when my course is in the morning it's 1 hour PAT, prep course, 1 hour gym, 2 hours bio, 2 hours gchem, 2 hours ochem, alternating with 1 hour math, prep, 1 hour gym, 2 hours bio, 2 hours gchem, 2 hours ochem.

For prep course days when the course is in the evening it's 1 hour bio, 1 hour gchem, 1 hour ochem, 1 hour PAT, 1 hour math, 2 hours gym, then the course. This alternates with the same, save that math is swapped for RC.

I intend on leaving fridays "free" (aka, working for cash, as opposed to studying). I'm not a fan of doing pure-topic days (all X, all day); I think it lends itself to blurring together and losing concentration. Some variety is needed just to keep yourself awake.

 

[drashleypaige]

I just finished grad school and graduated Saturday! 🙂 So my DAT studying begins this week. I've been wondering the same thing about how to attack this test. I want to take it the end of june/early July at the latest, but I also want to be adequately prepared. I'd be interested in knowing how others plan to study as well. And good luck to everyone!

 

[burnzee06]

So I figured you can learn from my mistakes as I have been studying for this test since December. I originally thought I would be taking it over spring break but a number of circumstances (exams.. paper... health committee application) made me push it back to June 1st.

I started off by reading everything then realized that I was never remembering what I read. I tried doing more active studying (flashcards, writing) and that has seemed to work best. Now, I am doing practice tests. I am working full time right now (swing shift at a restaurant, 9-10 hrs a day) so my studying is sporadic and disorganized.

So here's my schedule so far: I finished my semester April 24th and spent one week studying gen chem by doing the kaplan tests then reviewing what I missed then I did destroyer. I did the same with ochem the next week and just today I started that with bio. I also took a topscore test last night just to learn the format of the test. After I finish bio I am going to go over the questions I missed from all sciences, probably by making flashcards (work best for me). The last two weeks will be full of CDP and CDM tests and I will hopefully do the other two topscore tests. I have learned more in the past two weeks from taking practice tests than I learned reading the material for a month, that's for sure!

 

[razblo]

So I figured you can learn from my mistakes as I have been studying for this test since December. I originally thought I would be taking it over spring break but a number of circumstances (exams.. paper... health committee application) made me push it back to June 1st.

I started off by reading everything then realized that I was never remembering what I read. I tried doing more active studying (flashcards, writing) and that has seemed to work best. Now, I am doing practice tests. I am working full time right now (swing shift at a restaurant, 9-10 hrs a day) so my studying is sporadic and disorganized.

So here's my schedule so far: I finished my semester April 24th and spent one week studying gen chem by doing the kaplan tests then reviewing what I missed then I did destroyer. I did the same with ochem the next week and just today I started that with bio. I also took a topscore test last night just to learn the format of the test. After I finish bio I am going to go over the questions I missed from all sciences, probably by making flashcards (work best for me). The last two weeks will be full of CDP and CDM tests and I will hopefully do the other two topscore tests. I have learned more in the past two weeks from taking practice tests than I learned reading the material for a month, that's for sure!

I learn better from doing questions too, and I would just take a lot of tests to practice, but I think reviewing material that way isn't going to get me as broad of a scope of information as I feel like I need. I think going through a book will be the best way to study so than when you come to a test you can think "I've seen that before" and maybe recall what it is.

That's my take, but then again I haven't had Gen. Bio for about 2 years.

 

[suhshi]

IMO you should definetely mix up subjects when studying

 

[joonkimdds]

if you got msn messenger, add me, we have group study everyday.

 

[razblo]

if you got msn messenger, add me, we have group study everyday.

Interesting, please elaborate. 🙂

 

[joonkimdds]

Interesting, please elaborate. 🙂

messenger study group 😀

 

[JTSLai]

messenger study group 😀

but anyway...

The name of the studying game is all about efficiency. everyone has their own time/retention study curve. some people are really good at cramming things at the last minute. others require repetitive hammering. as for me, i didnt start studying until the week before, spent 2 days on bio, 1 on orgo, 1 on gen chem, 1 PAT, and 1 for QR and RC, all while taking midterms and doing engineering problem sets....lawl...needless to say, that week was hell